2 THE NEW YORKER New Yorker,' " and calls them, "sirs," as is a fashion in his land. To them he writes, thus: "You will place me under yet another obligation by allowing me to trespass on your valuable space. Not, however, that the occasion is anywhere near so signifi- cant as a request for 'valuable space' must by ordinary lead an editorial staff to think. I am not saying 'good-bye' to New York. I am, in fact, incapable of saying 'good-bye' to New York. I am merely follow- ing Marc Connelly's example in adventuring over the seas to find out whether Europe is still there. "The point of this letter has already found its full expression in the previous paragraph: in the name of the City of New York. Its direction towards your journal thus acquires an almost menacing air. It would, for instance, have been-I am still referring to the previous paragraph-easy, or easier, to write 'America.' However, I withheld my pen: thinking to myself that I am the only person in England connected with the making of books who has not known all about America in the space of a few weeks. Such is the de- plorable fact. Although I have been here nearly three months-nay, not only here, but everywhere-I have no suggestions whatsoever to offer you as to how you may improve yourselves. That is not to say that Americans have not made various suggestions as to how I might improve myself. I have noted these: and in the future will try to write better. Nor do I know eno gh about America to write even one article on, about, for, or against America, jLot even for an Ameri- can price. God bless American prices! "And what, therefore, shall I tell England? What will be my message to England? What shall I say to those who ask me to tell of my im- pressions of America? What shall I say to those who ask me what I thought of America? I shall speak the truth. I shall say that I found A mer i c a charming. And, Oh, I have! "Michael Arlen." Fifth Avenue in a business suit, light topcoat and grey felt hat, although stride for stride with him was His Honor, Mayor Hylan, accoutered formally, a perfect example of what the well-dressed mayor will wear. Both the Mayor and his Police Commissioner, Mr. Enright, are partial to formal attire for all public functions, perhaps because each wears the garb well. Although, it must be said again, Governor Smith, of Oliver Street, wears it Qetter. Political Incident T HE lore about Governor Smith grows daily and, since the demolition of Madison Square Garden calls it to mind, an additional item may be added now. It concerns (I) the last Democratic National Con- vention and (2) an unregenerate saloon near the con- vention hall. To the saloon, on a murky day toward the tag end of the convention, came a group of gentlemen, tall and bronzed of features, who r quested that drinks be served them. The bartender demurred. The visit- ors protested that they were not, as seemed to be sus- pected, revenue agents, but delegates from one of our little known Western States, to the convention then in session. The bartender still demurred. From a heavily-built, purple-complexioned gentle- man, at one end of the bar, came ,an inquiry, then: "For who is it you been voting?" "For McAdoo," responded, as one man, delegates from the little known Western state. "Nothing doing," said the purple-faced gentleman very firmly. "Had you you been for AI, " now, A conference en- sued and presen tl y , "Well, we're open to conviction," announc- ed one of the delegates. "Gi ve 'em a drink, Mike," commanded the heavily-built one, who was the proprie- tor. On the next day's ballotting one of our little known Western states switched six votes from M cAd 0 0 to Smith, and so voted until the bitter end. Mr. Arlen's Appre- ciation A GREAT appre- ciator, he, Mich- ael Arlen, who would not away to Mayfair, attired pour 1e voyage, without leaving kind words for those whom he addresses, "T h e Gentlemen of 'T h e The Stubborn Ass and the Determ'lned Go-Getter Meet at the Turnst'lle T HE R E is a c h arm in the United States, beyond tha t 0 f persons, to which Mr. Arlen al- ludes when he ex- claims, inevitably, with pen and ink, "God bless American prices! " The allusion is, one must believe, to what prices America pays, rather than to what ones it collects, for the Beau Michael, before sailing, made an arrangement with one of our monthly periodicals; that is to